The Divine Ordeal (closed)

The young priest seemed more dead than alive when the seal of the Cave of the Elements was broken. His bronze skin was covered with many bruises and burns, his chestnut hair and beard wild and his walk the delirious stumble of a man in severe pain and without orientation. His eyes though, his steel blue eyes burned with a visionary fire. The fire of a man who had stood before the Gods, who had been tested by them and proven worthy. There was no doubt to these that helped him out of the cave that Vardanes was truly chosen by the Gods. A man who had survived the tests of fire, of water, of earth and of wind in the Cave of the Elements was worthy to become the new High Priest.

The men helped Vardanes on one of the horses, a white stallion, descendant of the white stallion on which Arsakes, first of the High Priests once rode, after he returned from the Cave of the Elements, returned to unite the proud and independent mountain folk behind him and his Queen, the daughter of a powerful local warlord. The legend says that she had caught Arsakes' keen eye on his ride back from the cave, that the Gods had guided his gaze upon her. And that it was the same Gods who demanded that she too would undergo a trial to prove her worth, a sacred ordeal, administered by the High Priest, her prospective husband.

The Gods of this secluded mountain nation were harsh and unmerciful, relentless in the ordeals they imposed upon the chosen leaders of their chosen nation. But they needed to be that strict, that merciless. For only the strongest in body and spirit were fit to lead a nation like this one. Prospering in the roughest of climates, surrounded by powerful and much more numerous enemies, protected only by the unwelcoming conditions of their habitat, and by the strength and bravery of their warriors.

Vardanes had proven to be their strongest and most brave. On his way back into the capital, towards the great temple where he was to be consecrated as High Priest, many young maidens lined the streets, all of them dressed in white and wearing a wreath of flowers on their head. Each of them was of noble birth and hoping to be chosen by the designate High Priest, chosen to become his Queen. Their young hearts were beating wildly with hope and anxiety as they stood their waiting for Vardanes. High were their hopes, and yet also great their fears, because they knew that the ordeal they would have to undergo before becoming Queen would be inhumanely cruel and demanding. There was no hope for leniency this time. Twenty years ago, Vardanes' predecessor, his heart softened and his judgment clouded by love, had been too lenient on his Queen, and put her through an ordeal that was by no means harsh enough to please the Gods. The results were disastrous, the last twenty years a period of horrible hardships, of drought, pestilence and defeat.

The college of priests had Vardanes to become the next High Priest because they knew he was pious, strict and courageous. A man who knew his duties before the Gods and did not hesitate to fulfill them. Even though he was still delirious, from the pain, and the visions, and the sacred herbs, he sat upright upon his horse, every bronze muscle of his bare chest glistening in the midsummer sun, his commanding, royal features sharp and masculine. And yet his eyes seemed to stare into nowhere, as if he was still gazing into the world of the Gods, and not into the world of the mortals. Each virgin he passed was at the same time disappointed to not be chosen, not even noticed, and yet relieved to be spared the rigid ordeal.

When he rode into the capital, the population cheered upon him, thousands of voices called out his name in celebration. And yet he did not seem to notice any of them. Some of those who accompanied him, lead him towards the temple, already feared that that his mind of gone for good, that the visions he experienced in the cave had been too intense for any mortal mind. He had not spoken one worth since they had broken the seal and helped him upon his horse. Andy yet, just before they reached the temple, he gripped the reigns, and halted his horse. His eyes deep and blue like a mountain lake glistening in the summer sun fell upon a young female who had stepped into his way – had it been by accident or intention? - and he looked at her with the deep and intense stare of a man who was able to look into another being's soul. And then he spoke, with a voice still raspy from the thirst and hardship of his trial, but yet unbroken and commanding. “You have been chosen to be my queen”, he said with the determination of a man who had been blessed by the Gods to lead his people.

Lily Petterson
20

Lily Petterson was the kind of pretty girl that seemed like she was very ignorant, but she wasn't. She was very smart all because of her mother Rose, her mother wanted her daughter to do something she never could do, and that was to be the next queen. She put it into her head so much that she started to dream about it, it was something that was really cool in her own opinion. She use to dream of people bowing before her after the ritual and perhaps finding love in the man she was meant to be with. She always wanted to be loved by at least one person, but to be loved by thousands even hundreds it was incredible. But she would have dreams were one person would run behind her, grab her and slit her throat. She would shoot up screaming at such a very young age, it was something that was what made her mother realize that she needed to start getting tough on her. She didn't want a weak child, that she knew instantly. Rose loved her daughter very much and Lily felt that love, but even at an extremely young age she knew her life was going to be very hard for her.

Lily was taught since she was five years old to be able to do it, to become the next queen if that time ever came in her life time. She had heard of how bad the rituals are and to deal with all kinds of pain, her mother was always careful not to leave scars because everyone knew the man that wanted a queen would want a beautiful young lady with nothing wrong with her. She would whip her, making sure that her daughter's back would be covered by the strongest cloth she could find, and did what she needed to do. The cloth was to make sure her skin would be red but not wounded. A lot was done to her to make sure her daughter wouldn't cry for the slightest things. Lily never had friends because she was always with a teacher, Lily wanted to learn about everything if it was possible. She loved to read it helped her get away with how bad things were going on in her life, but she never complained, she never talked to anyone. She was quite, and when it her training stopped she was able to have some what of a childhood.

Because of her mother she grew into a very strong young woman, she didn't cry or even she'd tears. She would only if she was cut up and then even then she didn't know. She started to hear about what was going on and her mother pretty much forced her to be the maiden and hoped that he would pick her. Lily started to think that her mother wanted this more then she did. She wanted to be famous perhaps, "the mother of the new queen' Perhaps because she wanted much more then her daughter did. Lily hoped that her mother loved her. But she truly didn't know any more, she didn't know what was going to happen if she was picked. Could she go through all the torture? The humiliation she really didn't care about. She just wanted all this to be over. So her mother dressed her up in a white dress that day, put her hair in a braid then put it up in a bun, putting on a little bit of makeup just to enhance the beauty she already had. And she smiled at her mother, on the outside she was fine, in the inside she was hating her mother for all this.

Her mother followed her outside and saw all the women, everyone around her age. She was a virgin yes but it wasn't for this reason, her mother pretty much made sure she didn't talk to men. But she may as well play the damn part she thought. She knew that the new man that was going to possibly be her husband, of course assuming that she gets through it. Was going to be thirsty so she put as much water in the little container she had. And held it close to her, she stood where she was suppose to. She had a necklace around her neck that was close to her neck, it was very simple and in the shape of a heart. Then around her left ankle it was a little bracelet meant for that part of her body. She had roses in her hair and was waiting for god knows what, but she started to hear the sound of pretty much the parade coming her way. And could tell the new priest was very picky, She sighed softly hoping that he passes her, because she figured she would be to old to do this the next time it needed to be.

Suddenly the man came towards them and before she knew her, her mother came right behind her and shoved her right in his horses path. She almost fell but managed to stand, she didn't flinch when she was inches from him. She slowly looked up at him and blushed a little bit, he was much older then her but she didn't mind it. When he choose her she didn't know what to say or do, so she said nothing. And when it came to the flask, she raised it to him offering the water to him. Unsure if he would drink it or think she did something to it, a lot of thing was running all over the place. But she didn't flinch and she just waited to see what happened. She noticed her mother at the corner of her eye and noticed that her mother was grinning like the wicked devil. She knew from now on that this was going to be very hard on her but she wasn't going to complain, she was ready for anything. He was rather good looking, and preferred an older man any way but she knew that it was only going to get worse, before it gets better.

It must have been the Gods that had guided Vardanes to make his decision. It must have been their will, that he spoke with such certainty, without the slightest doubt. Never before had he seen the maiden that had stepped into his path. But her appearance had torn him from his almost catatonic state, brought him back to the world of the human. He paused now to have a look at the girl he had chosen, his mental presence now returning. Who was she? With just one sentence he had put the fate of his beloved nation into her hands, and at the same time condemned her to the most severe ordeal of torment. Would she be fit to stand the ordeal? Would she be qualified to rule? If it was the gods will that had guided his judgment, then yes, then it would be so.

His hand reached out to take the flask she had offered to him. Could this be an assassin? An attempt by the enemies of his land to poison the new High Priest even before he was consecrated? For a moment this thought troubled Vardanes. But then he brought the flask to his lips and drank from it. He who had endured the cave of the elements would not show fear or hesitation when facing a young girl with a flask of water. He drank from the cool liquid, and it soothed his parched throat. One more sip, and he handed the empty flask back down to the girl.

“Bring her to the cloister of the four Goddesses to prepare her”, he commanded the priests who accompanied him, “to prepare her for the ordeal”. His clear blue eyes cast one more gaze upon the maiden. “I will see you again in three days time”, he spoke to her, then rode onward, towards the great temple. There always was a rest period of three days between the new High Priest's trial of the elements and the Divine Ordeal of the future Queen. It was necessary for the priest to recover his strength. At the same time his chosen bride would be inspected by the holy women of the cloister, to make sure she really was still a virgin, and to make sure she was healthy enough to endure the Ordeal.

The better her health, the more harsh and painful ritual she was able to endure. And the more she endured the greater the Gods' blessing for the homeland, proud Sarthia. She was quite beautiful, Vardanes thought to himself as he rode on, towards the temple. Would that make it harder for him to torture her? Or even easier... There was not much time to ponder upon this question. For soon he was surrounded by priests and temple servants, helping him off his horse, leading him into the temple. All the dignitaries of Sarthia, nobles, warriors, scholars, clerics were gathered in front of the temple to witness the ceremony. And behind them stood thousands of common people, making way for the designated High Priest in awe, as he passed through the crowd.

For a sort time he disappeared inside the temple. But in that short time temple's servants had done wonders. Vardanes' hair and beard no longer were wild and unruly when he stepped out, but neatly kempt, his beard shortened now and ending in a knot so typical for his homeland. He now wore the white and golden robes of High Priesthood, and even his gaze no longer was vacant but firm and determined as he stepped out of the gates. The horns of Sarthia were blown to announce the beginning of the ceremony which would make him High Priest and ruler of this land – joint ruler together with his Queen.

Lily watched him she could tell that he didn't trust what she was offering, she couldn't help but smile. But her eyes never broke from his because she was afraid that if in fact her eyes looked away afraid if she did he would think she wanted him dead. And she didn't she was happy when he finally drank and gave back the flask. All she wanted was a peace offering. She wasn't stupid, she knew just how much this was going to hurt. Her mother came to her taking the flask, because men started to surrond her and knew exactly what was going to happen. She watched as the new priest went off with the others and sighed softly. She bit her lip and felt a hand on her shoulder, it was a man perhaps in his 50's and showed her the way to go. You couldn't hear the hoof's from the horse any more it was nice to see such a beautiful creature. She moved because she didn't want to piss anyone off, there was a few people following her and knew all to well what this meant. Swollowing hard she went up the steps and the man motioned for her lay down on the slab.

She laid down wanting to ask a million questions, but nothing came out of her. She just nodded and laid down, there was a couple women that came here and they were rather pretty. They smiled down at her as they began to undress her from head to toe. And within a minute she was completely naked and she just laid there trying to ignore the fact someone was doing this to her. She looked at the sky as the man came over to her, he smiled down at her as he poked and prodded. She didn't hear him say a god damn thing to her and when she looked at him the man just nodded at her. She didn't know what that meant but figured it meant that she was very healthy. She was strong and her body was incredible. No scar, no blemishes and she gasped feeling a hand between her legs, she cried out when she felt something going inside her. Then the fingers retracted from her, he was checking to see if she was a virgin. She had tears running down her face as it hurt, and she gripped her hand in a fist trying not to show weakness.

Soon she was allowed to stand and was taken to some alter, she didn't know what to expect and her mind went flying, that was easy to tell. She looked at everything, taking all the detail of the area and the people. It was really hard to think and was trying to think in that moment to see what the hell was going on. She knew this was going to hurt and humiliate her but she frankly didn't care about being humaliated but she was terrfied of other things, that much she knew. She was given something to drink since her mouth was dry and figured that would be the only kindness that she would get till she completed what ever rituals was given to her. She had a feeling the first trial was her going to be beaten up a lot. She had a feeling. Everything was going on she sighed. She nodded and got ready for what ever was going to happen, looking at the man she knew that he was going to do something, so she got ready for everything. Her body went stiff, ready for a hit, what ever they had in mind.

The people of Sarthia were a frugal lot, not very keen on lavish and pompous celebrations. There were very few exceptions to that rule. And one of them was the consecration of a new High Priest. All the nobles and all the other clerics of Sarthia paid their tribute to Varadnes, then he was crowned with the sacred fivefold tiara, representing the five gods of Sarthia, Kalan the Blind, and his four daughters. There was prayer, there were speeches there were hymns. And all gave their best wishes to the new High Priest. For they knew, in these solemn days, he and his new Queen would be the great hope of this country. Some of the nobles and priests gave whips, and rods and other instruments of torture as gifts to Vardanes, and reminded him to be strict during the ritual. For only those who were without weakness and mercy would win the blessing of the country's rigid gods.

Vardanes promised them to show no weakness, to show no mercy during his Queen's torturous ordeal. He was determined to win the much needed approval of Kalan and his daughters. After the ceremony he withdrew to his new chambers in the Grand Temple to meditate for an hour and then rest, he needed to regain his strength before he began orchestrating his chosen maiden's suffering. But before he went to sleep, he asked one of the priests, how the testing of his chosen Queen had gone. Pleased with the results, and determined not to be too soft on the young one, he wrote a short but very clear message to the head of the cloister.

Meanwhile in the cloister, Lily was being prepared by the holy sisters and by the Archdeacon of Kalan. They had just finished her testing, and the sisters had given her something to drink, when a messenger arrived, handing the Archdeacon a message from Vardanes. The deacon, a strong, gray bearded man in his early fifties, read the message, and then nodded, smiling satisfied, that his superior indeed wasted no time in beginning Lily's ordeal.

“Follow me”, he ordered her, just as she had finished her drink, leading her towards the altar of the cloister's chapel. In front of the altar something stood that looked like a table, but with winches on its ends, and an iron manacle attached to each of its four corners. A rack. “The High Priest as given us the order to chain you to this rack.” the Archdeacon spoke, pointing at the device, so lay down here. And do not worry, we will not torture you, as this is the High Priest's duty and privilege.” Their order was just to chain her to the rack, keeping her bare body fastened to it for the two days until the High Priest would come for her and begin the cruel ritual that would make her Queen of Sarthia.

She did everything that she was told to do as not to anger anyway, it was really nice that they gave her water. They didn't have to that much she did know. She was on there for how ever long she was there, she saw the moon twice so knew it was to days, she was sore but she just watched the stars at night and it was really nice and it was cool. At the third day she sighed softly and didn't know what was going to happen. Right now it was something that was kinda hard to deal with. The heat of the sun was killing her, she kenw it was day number three that much she coulod easily see. Felt like it was 105 out she was dripping with sweat she noticed the daughters came to put water on her body no one wanted a fried queen to be and was grateful. Again something they didn't have to do. Sighing softly she couldn't help but just wish he would come and the funny thing is, he did. She heard gasping then saw everyone bowing before him, she locked eyes onto him an gently bowed her head best she could the way she was, he hoped that he saw what she was doing about giving him respect.

Lily knew that this was going to happen one way or another, she was afraid about what would happen if things changed different and not for the better. Sighing softly she couldn't stand it any longer and hoped that he would begin, she said nothing but sighed. Everything seemed to stop when it came down to the new high priest, grinning happily she sighed softly. Thankfully the clouds were flooding over the sun and was grateful for it, it was just to damn hot. Her lips were chapped and right now it was just different. Hoping for rain she couldn't hear what he was saying but he was talking and picking what weapon to use. She didn't like this and knew she was going to really hate this, it was to the point she was afraid that she was going to get so damn hard that she wouldn't be able to do it, but the fighter in her the warrior. She was afraid that if she lived through it her mother would kill her and not just the idea but actually kill her. She sighed softly and was afraid to ask but she needed to hopefully it wasn't against the rules or anything.

But she loved her life and didn't want to die at the young age she was, smiling softly she just relaxed best she knew how to. It was hard to think about what was going to happen. Right now it was just different, her heart was pounding and it was nice. Her heart racing and felt like torture and sighed. "I hope I may ask a question?" She said softly and saw a couple people look at her, she felt really foolish and it was something she didn't want to deal with but she knew she would have to, her heart beating so loudly it was hard. "I know the trials will be just that but has these trials ever known to kill the women who go through them? I will of course go through them gladly but I was just curious" She said simply.

Hearing the maiden's question, the woman who had just begun washing Lily's body with a sponge and cold water sighed and turned towards the archdeacon, who had just arrived. The grey bearded man, clad in his ceremonial white robes, paused for a moment before he finally replied to her question. “This ritual had been practiced for over five hundred years now. Only three of the designated Queens have died during the ritual”, he explained, proud of his extensive knowledge of his church's and country's history and traditions. “Such incidents are very rare. I am sure this will not happen to you. You are healthy, you are strong.” He gave a her a little reassuring smile and a nod, then rose to his feet again. “Be determined and unbroken in your faith and you will prevail. You are the hope and future of our country.”

As the archdeacon walked off again, the women continued to wash Lily. They also took care of her hair, combing and braiding it. Finally as the others left, one of them lightly, shyly kissed Lily's forehead. “May the gods protect you”, she whispered, then headed off, following her sisters. For a few moments Lily was alone, still chained to the rack. It was noon now, the sun appearing behind the clouds again. It was going to be a hot a day again.

The High Priest arrived alone, and with soft but sure steps, walking the stone path that lead to the open air altar, and the rack that had been erected in front of it. “Peace be with you, Lily”, he spoke, as he reached her. His keen blue eyes inspecting her chained body, making sure she had not been violated, not been tortured by anyone. “It must have been a long wait for you”, he spoke with sympathy in his voice. “I hope you used this time for prayer and meditation, to prepare yourself for what is coming.” Vardanes slowly reached out his hand, to gently swipe back a strand of hair that had falling into the girl's face.

It was strange, this was only the second time he met her. The first time being when she stepped into his path after his return from the cave of the elements. And their fates now were forever linked. Her fate, his fate, and the fate of their homeland had become one. If one of them failed, Sarthia would suffer too. “Are you ready to do this? Ready to suffer for our gods, for our country?”, he asked her, looking deep into the girl's eyes. She was still young, was she really ready? On the other hand she had taken the two and a half days on the rack really well, no complaint at all had been reported to him.

Lily watched the kindness from the old man which was rather nice, she was glad to know what he gave her. She nodded happily and was really happy about this now. Perhaps this was what she was meant to be, her mother always thought that she was meant for something greater. And she never thought about it, when it came down to it, something good needed to happen to her. And perhaps she really was meant for something big for her, she imagined what it would be like to be queen believe it or not. It was something that actually felt really cool in a way, she knew that this was her destiny. Once this was over she would have to thank her mother, that much she did know. Risking so much and she decided to let these people here know what her mother did to get her here, but wanted to bring this to there attention. She heared whispers from the girls about the stepping in his tracks, but she didn't really know how to tell them. She smiled happily at him, she couldn't help find herself enjoying this moment in a way.

"I do have to say my mother pushed me in your way, she has trained me my whole life for thiis. She always thought that I was destined for greatness and never believed her until today. Praying and trying to find self worth, I am starting to truly believe that I was meant for this. It takes a lot to make me cry and I feel that I am ready for this and it's a great honor to do this for our gods, our country and for you high priest" She said softly but loudly and didn't know if anyone had ever been trained their whole life. But she decided to give them a piece of what kind of girl that she is. "And as long as you have faith in me High Priest, I have faith in myself" She added and sighed softly. Her smile was true and between her smile and eyes it was easy to say that and she truly was at peace. Everything seemed to stop and looked up at the clouds thanking the gods to block the sun and hoped for a little rain, rain would be good that much she did know. Grinning happily she couldn't help but just be happy in that moment.

Things seemed to stop for them, everything was good and nodded to the priests and high priest. In a way she was hoping that someone would be impressed by what she was trained for and by what she said. She wondered what her mother would say to her in this moment, her mom wasn't very emotional and never truly said that she loved her.

Listening to Lily's words, Vardanes nodded, he was happy to hear how happily she did accept her fate, how ready she was to begin her ordeal. Still it wouldn't be easy for her, no matter how well her mother had prepared her. “Your piety and your strength of will is impressive.” He spoke to her, his hand softly caressing her cheek as he looked into the girl's brown eyes. “Just as it is expected from a true Queen of Sarthia.” He paused for a moment, then added, “you understand that once I begin your ordeal, no pleas for mercy will be able to stop me. The gods demand me to put you though this without any hesitation, without any mercy.”

Watching her as he spoke, he couldn't help admiring how beautiful she was. Such an attractive young woman. Before this day he had thought that sympathy and affection for the designated queen would make it harder for him to torture her to the utmost extent. But now, strangely, the more he began to like her, the more he was looking forward to put her through this ordeal. There was something in her devotion, in her loyal eyes that made him yearn to start tormenting Lily. His eyes wandered over her body for a moment, smiling softly, as he took in every detail of her beauty. So many possibilities to hurt this supple body, to whip it and contort it.

Yes, it was time to start. “Keep in mind that when during your ordeal you are treated roughly or are humiliated, that there is no disrespect implied. No matter what is done to you by me or on my orders, it is all done in the greatest of respect for you and your willingness to serve our country and our gods.” Thus he spoke, as he stepped towards the winch on the upper end of the rack, his eyes never leaving the chained maiden. He spoke a short prayer to the gods, asking them to guide his hands to the greatest strictness, and keep him from having his heart softened by mercy and hesitation, then asking them to give the young maiden the strength to stand this ordeal. And yes he was determined to make this one of the most painful and challenging ordeals a Queen of Sarthia had ever been put through.

Vardanes' strong hands now slowly began to turn the wheel, stretching Lily's youthful body with each inch it was turned. She was not stretched so much that it would break her bones or tear her ligaments, but the pulling on her limbs was certainly intense enough to cause severe pain and discomfort. And this was just the very beginning of Lily's ordeal...

She couldn't help but just listen to his words, it was really nice. Thinking for a moment and couldn't even begin to know how much this was going to hurt. She watched him study her and knew he liked her, she didn't need to know much about men. She smiled at her and when he asked if she was ready and it was really hard to know for sure. Everything was simple to her she needed to be brave and to have faith, she nodded to him that she was ready. But was she really? She didn't know and that scared her, she new the pain would be unbareable and that scared her a bit to. Right now it was almost impossible to fathom what was left to do now, but to endue and that was enough to scare her. She looked up at the sky to try and gather strength, for some odd reason the sky always calmed her. Perhaps because she felt close to the gods, she was put through all sorts of shit growing up, but her knowlege about the gods gave her a sense that when she dies she will be at peace, it was really nice. Her heart was beating as it began.

She felt everything in her body hurt like hell as he did what he needed to do, she pulled her head back showing pain but not crying out. She didn't know just how much more she could do this, her heart beating everything just seemed to stop. She bit her lip so hard it bled, she looked down at him and smiled still, her beauty seemed to almost glowed. She wished she could escape her body, it was really hard. Her heart beating much quicker then it should, she was afraid. Right now things were sitting still and it was to the point she couldn't do it any more, she loved life and knew she had to do this. She closed her eyes and tried to meditate deeply, she had heard of escapeing your body but it was myth she thought, something she couldn't do but wished she could. She slowed her breath and her heart was and feeling her body being pulled almost out of her body it felt like her body was being pulled apart, that she would be ripped apart. She looked at the high priest trying to find some kind of strength in his eyes.

After stretching the young woman's body on the rack, Vardanes studied her reaction to the painful treatment. He noticed that she uttered not a sound, even though her face did show how much she suffered. His eyes met hers, and for a moment his strength and determination waned and he was overwhelmed with sympathy. He could now understand how his predecessor as High Priest failed, could understand why he had been much too lenient in his treatment of his Queen in the ritual. But then Vardanes remembered the fate of his country, the bad luck that did come upon it during the reign of the old Queen and High Priest. He also remembered the hardship he had gone through in the Cave of the Elements. The relentless heat, the parching thirst, crushing waves, and the biting wind.

He had to show no remorse he had to go on. For the gods, for his country. “This has only just begun”, he told Lily as he looked into her eyes, then leaned forward to place a little kiss upon her forehead. This was all the tenderness she would receive now, for he knew that he had to go on. So he pulled back just a bit, enough to reach for a lever that was placed on the side of the rack. As the lever was moved, iron spikes did slowly rise from the rack. The spikes were blunt, so they didn't pierce Lily's tender skin as they pushed up against it. But it was obvious how greatly they would increase the pain and discomfort of the tormented maiden, especially in her already painfully stretched out state.

Lily watched as the high priest placed the kiss on her forehead, and in her head and knew that would be the only kindness and even he said it would be. It was really hard to keep calm now, because she looked the rack over quickly before she laid down. It was terrible and hard and knew her skin wouldn't be pierced least not yet. Her heart was beating when she saw his hand on the lever. It was really hard to just not want to scream out. Her mind began to race, she was scared but refused to show it, something her mother taught her to do.

It was then she felt the spikes, she still didn't scream out. But her hands clenched and on one hand her nails cut her skin making it bleed. She said nothing and did nothing, no scream what so ever. Was easy to see she hurt but it was something else. Even though the pain hurt so fucking much she was still silent. Perhaps she was trying to impress everyone, or perhaps it was her own personal strength, she wasn't to sure what it was. Her breathing did change she had gasped the only sign that she was in great distress.

Vardanes' blue eyes wandered over the body of the restrained maiden. And again he was impressed by her self control, by the fact that she uttered not a word even though she clearly was in such agony. But then he noticed the blood on her lip, seeing that she had bitten herself there. Even though it was his religious duty to torture her, it was also the High Priest's duty to make sure she was not seriously injured. He had to make sure she didn't bite through her lip when he increased her pain even more. Thus he reached for a cloth to wipe the blood away gently. “I have to make sure you do not injure yourself, girl”. He spoke, as he put the bloodied cloth away, and reached for a solid metal ring, held by two leather straps. A ring gag. “Open your mouth wide, Lily”, he commanded, as he wanted to put the gag into her mouth. When it was firmly lodged in her open mouth, he'd strap it around her head, and order her to lift up her head as much as she was able to in her bound position, and then fasten the gag behind her head.

But it was not only her mouth that was bleeding, her fingernails had also dug into her palm, making one hand bleed too. “Girl, it should be me hurting you, not you yourself”, he admonished her. “Now open your hands again.” The temple owned a wide array of the most wicked restraints and torture devices. Thus Vardanes knew exactly how to make sure how to keep the young maiden from wounding her own hands. Again he cleaned the little wound her fingernails had created. Then he ordered one of the servants to bring him two steel hand traps. “These devices will keep you from injuring your own hands.” He said, now putting each of her hands into a rigid steel frame, that held the fingers firmly, keeping her from moving her fingers, as they were held in a painful viselike grip by the device. "Now this should keep you from hurting yourself", he said satisfied as gag and hand traps were in place.

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She didn't mean to hurt herself, it was just how she didn't show weakness and in hopes of passing this there was no time for weakness. She looked at the night priest and it was nice to see him actually care, he wasn't some heartless old shit that didn't care about her. Everything seemed simple and she blushed a bit. Though she didn't even realize she had hurt herself, just scratches something that would heal by the time they got out of here. Her heart was speeding as she listened to what he said to her about not hurting herself. The blush got worse and looked up at him, she didn't know if talking to him was okay but he didn't seem to mind, actually no one seemed to truly care. It was a wonderful thing to see and feel and now? it was nice. Everything just seemed to stop when he touched her, tilting her head to the side a little.

"I'm sorry that I did that, honestly I didn't even know I did it. Didn't mean to upset you or the gods"

She said simply and was curious what he would do or say, and then there it was. She opened up her mouth when he commanded, did everything to the T. It was really something else, looking at him once she was gagged. But she looked up at the sky and sighed softly, where he continued to do this torture to her. Trying so hard thankfully however what he did kinda helped her, she bit the gag so hard and still made no peep. She didn't know what would happen if it got worse, which of course it would. She didn't know if she would be able to be silent. She was trying so hard to impress everyone.

Hearing her words, he smiled. She was such a good girl, so pious and loyal. When he had finished gagging her mouth and putting her hands into the restraints, Vardanes paused ad looked at his work. She looked so beautiful, chained to the rack, her body stretched out, her back upon the spikes. Reaching out his hand, he gently caressed Lily's face. She seemed to shine with even more beauty, the more he tormented her. Vardanes knew he was doing this for the gods and for his country, not for his own pleasure. And yet he noticed that beside his sense of duty, and besides his sympathy for her, there was a third conflicting emotion building up in him. There was a strange kind of arousal he began to feel, when torturing this brave and innocent maiden.

His eyes still upon the young woman's body, he took a little step back. While her back was in pain from the stretching and the spikes, the front side of her body, her breasts, her belly, her womanhood, was still untouched by any of his ingenious torture devices. It was his duty to change this now. Vardanes ordered one of the servants to bring him a collection of whips, rods, paddles, straps and similar devices. The temple had an ample selection of these, so it took three young novices to bring the cruel instruments to the high priest. “Maybe it is good that you are gagged now...” he said to Lily, before turning his attention towards the instruments of torture. There were so many to chose from, and strangely he was looking forward to see what kind of marks they made upon the girl's virgin body. Knowing that this was only the first day of her ordeal, he decided not to start with one of the cruelest whips, not the hooked cat-of-nine-tails, not the barbed whip or the spiked rod, instead he chose a studded leather strap. A flexible, but heavy instrument, which would most likely force her body down against the spikes and therefor torture both sides at once.

“Let's start with this one”, he proclaimed, holding up the black leather strap, so Lily could see what was coming next. “Ready?” he asked her softly, as he slowly ran the studded item over her body, the cold metal of the studs caressing her bare flesh.

Something was so much different with this man, something about him and wasn't to sure what it was, but he was nice even though he had to do this to her. But it was there customer and birth right, she knew this would be beyond hellish nothing she had ever been through, and because she had never been allowed to hang around boys her own age so sex was never on her mind. Though she wasn't to sure if that would be the case any way. She was kind, careful and everything she did would matter one day. Her heart was racing hearing what he said to her, watching him trying to pick a toy and pick what would be worthy of torture of her. Her heart was beating because she was afraid and was doing well to hide it. She would have done anything he asked of her, just out of respect. But no man she had seen outside her window, which was the only way to see. No one caught her eye, but this man was very handsome to her and it was really. But she knew this was going to take all the strength she had just for the next step, it was hard to be able to not smile, though with the gag in her mouth it was really hard to, but what her lips couldn't show her eyes could.

She blinked by what he said and nodded she knew this would be horrible, her heart beating quickly she would be panting if her mouth wasn't gagged. She looked up at the sky and was ready for what ever else he planned on doing, she wished she could escape her body which was in a lot of pain, and knew if she did not die she would be laid up for a very long time, then again perhaps that was why they were careful on who to pick, it was incredible how everything flew through and it was incredible once this part was over, she would see herself wanted by a lot of people wanting to be her, wanting the power she had. But she didn't do this for that she didn't want to be worshiped or loved, she felt it was her duty to be the next. Her eyes looked around and she could almost see pity with those who were there to watch, she was curious as to why she began to wonder but perhaps it was in her head, since she was tired of this already but knew it had to continue.

Oh yes, she was beautiful, he thought to himself, as his eyes followed the heavy lather straps slowly journey across the young woman's slender body. Suddenly he wondered, how much rather he would keep on caressing her flesh, kiss her and make sweet love to her instead of torturing her. But these thoughts were out of place now. These were thoughts that should never occur to a High Priest in such a situation, during the most sacred ritual of his homeland. He growled to himself softly to push these thoughts away, out of his mind, then without warning, lifted up the leather strap from her flesh, and swiftly brought it down again. The first blow struck Lily's upper thigh, with a sound thud the studded leather marked her youthful flesh.

He was the High Priest of the Sarthian gods, performing his sacred duties, doing what the gods had chosen him to do. Three days ago, in the Cave of the Elements, when storms raged around him, and he had to cling to the sharpest of rocks to not be torn into the deepest abyss, he had held on with grim determination. Back then he did so because it had been his duty to survive, to hold on through the pain and now his duty was to deliver, to not hesitate as he raised up his arm again, for another firm blow. Absorbed in his task, he did not see that behind him, some of the priests and servants had averted their gaze in sympathy with the poor maiden, while others watched shocked awe or dark fascination. This time, he struck Lily's lower abdomen with his cruel device, pushing her body down onto the spikes below her painfully with the power of his blow. He knew that her pain, her sacrifice pleased the gods. And not only that it would also strengthen her, prepare her to be a strong and remorseless queen, just like his painful and dangerous trials in the Cave of the Elements had prepared him for his task, blessed him with persistence and divine visions.